Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145 Eat Less From Now On

Finished

asper’s voice was thick with worry. “Margaret already has no suitable suitors after Crown Prince Christopher broke their engagement. If she grows even closer to Prince Theodore, no man will dare marry her once he no longer needs her help. Father, have you never considered her future? She is seventeen already. Common women her age have gotten engaged, but she…”

Enough of this foolish talk,” Timothy snapped, his tone cold and sharp. “You have yet to marry yourself. How dare you waste time fretting over her?”

asper bowed his head at once. “I know I have spoken out of line.”

‘Stop dwelling on useless worries and focus on Stella instead,” Timothy said firmly. “Crown Prince Christopher cares deeply about his reputation. He will only choose a woman of striking beauty as his Crown Princess. He must never lay eyes on Stella’s swollen, bruised face.”

His tone was filled with unease. “If Margaret had not let herself gain weight over the years, Crown Prince Christopher might have stayed loyal to her. Every man values a wife’s appearance, and that truth rings even more so for someone as noble as Crown Prince Christopher.

‘Your priority now is to help Stella secure the Crown Princess title while she is still in her prime. Once she holds power, she will not fear other women in the palace. The royal court is filled with countless ladies, and she will face endless jealousy for years to come.”

Jasper’s heart ached with quiet sorrow at Timothy’s obvious favoritism. “I understand.”

Meanwhile, inside her bedchamber, Stella ignored her sharp pain and sat upright on soft cushions to keep her figure looking neat, refusing to lie down.

Christopher’s mind was a tangled mess. Though he stayed in her room, his thoughts kept drifting back to the confrontation at the estate gates.

Stella’s constant soft sobs began to wear thin on his patience.

“Dry your tears, Stella. Your eyes are swollen enough already,” he said.

Stella froze mid–cry and quickly composed herself. “I’m sorry, Crown Prince Christopher. I simply cannot bear all this pain and grief.”

Her veil covered most of her face, leaving only her puffy, tear–stung eyes visible, Christopher reached out, ready to lift the fabric. “You are safe in your private chambers. There is no need to keep this veil.”

“No.” Stella pulled away in a panic. “My face is badly swollen and disfigured. I cannot let you see me looking so hideous.”

Christopher said, “Silly girl. You will always be the most beautiful to me. I only hate seeing you uncomfortable under that veil.”

“I’m fine this way.” Stella hung her head low, clear terror shining in her eyes.

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Chapter 145 Eat Less From Now On

Seeing her distress, Christopher slowly lowered his hand.

Finished

As he stared at her swollen eyes, a strange thought crossed his mind–she no longer looked as breathtaking as she once had.

His mood grew heavy. He thought back to Norma’s words, fell into a short silence, and finally spoke up. “There is something I have not had the chance to tell you.”

Stella said in a pitiful tone, “You may speak freely, Crown Prince Christopher. I am not a stranger to you.”

Christopher gritted his teeth. “It is about the Crown Princess title. You know you are the only one I love, the only woman I intend to wed. But my mother disagrees. She insists Margaret should be named Crown Princess instead.”

Rage burned fiercely in Stella’s chest, yet she forced a meek reply. “But Margaret…”

“I have argued with her, yet she refuses to budge,” Christopher sighed. “She first promised you the rank of Royal Consort, and she will not go back on that decision.”

Large tears spilled down Stella’s cheeks. Christopher hurried to soothe her. “Do not cry. This is not my wish. I have already asked for your hand, and I will marry you no matter what. I cannot defy my mother outright, so you will have to accept the title of Royal Consort next month. The Crown Princess‘ seat will stay empty, and no one will ever stand above you.”

In that moment, Stella felt as if her whole world had crumbled.

She trembled with suppressed fury, yet she bit her tongue and held back her rage. She looked up at him with a wronged, fragile expression. “It does not matter. As long as I can stay by your side, I am willing to be only a consort.”

Christopher relaxed in relief. “I knew you loved me for who I am, not for empty, meaningless titles.”

He pulled her into a gentle, guilty embrace. “I have wronged you greatly with this.”

Stella’s heart was breaking apart, yet she kept a soft, uncomplaining look on her face.

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